THE CITY’S Conservative group has unveiled its five key pledges as part of its ‘plan for Coventry’ after announcing candidates will be standing in all 18 wards in the upcoming local elections.
The pledges, based on feedback they party has received from people in the city, include reducing the council’s debts which they claim currently stand at over £300million.
Ideas for generating extra cash include introducing a ‘community infrastructure levy’ to be paid by developers in the city.
This alongside other savings put forward in the group’s recent alternative budget will be part of the Conservative’s plan to keep council tax down.
The Conservatives said they would direct some of these savings towards front-line services, such as highways, road safety and tackling graffiti.
They would also look at innovative ways of maintaining roads, such as sponsorship, while other measures to improve services include making the city’s tip more accessible.
Policies to make the city greener include introducing a dedicated Cabinet Member for Climate Change and declaring a climate emergency.
The group has also pledged to halt plans for development at land on Browns Lane, which the Conservatives claim is a part of the popular Coundon Wedge beauty spot.
And it hopes to make Coventry a ‘bee-friendly city’ by rewilding and planting more blossom trees in the city centre and improving education programmes to get children to take an interest in the environment.
Measures to help ease the impact of the cost of living crisis include introducing free late-night parking in the city centre and a review of school bus charges.
And the conservatives have called for more transparency in the city council after previously accusing the Labour Party of falling short in what it offers residents.
Coventry Conservative leader Coun Gary Ridley said: “Labour’s legacy in power is higher taxes, more debt and poorer services.
“They’ve squandered millions on failed schemes like Coombe Abbey Hotel and loans to the hopeless City of Culture Trust – this can and must change.”
